Transponder label and method for manufacturing a transponder label

Abstract

A transponder label has a dielectric spacer body with a first side and a second side and a transponder inlay with a chip and an antenna, wherein the transponder inlay is applied to the spacer body such that a first part of the antenna is arranged on the first side of the spacer body and a second part of the antenna is arranged on the second side of the spacer body. The transponder label further includes a sensor unit electrically coupled to the chip of the transponder inlay and configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transponder label ( 1 ) comprising:
 a dielectric spacer body ( 20 ) having a first side ( 21 ) and a second side ( 22 ), 
 a transponder inlay ( 10 ) having a chip ( 12 ) and an antenna ( 11 ), the transponder inlay ( 10 ) being applied to the spacer body ( 20 ) such that a first part ( 13 ) of the antenna ( 11 ) is arranged on the first side ( 21 ) of the spacer body ( 20 ) and a second part ( 14 ) of the antenna ( 11 ) is arranged on the second side ( 22 ) of the spacer body ( 20 ), and 
 a sensor unit ( 30 ) electrically coupled to the chip ( 12 ) of the transponder inlay ( 10 ) and configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter, 
 wherein two electrically conductor tracks ( 31 ) spaced apart from one another form the sensor unit ( 30 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a flexible film substrate having a first side on which the transponder inlay ( 10 ), the spacer body ( 20 ) and the sensor unit ( 30 ) are arranged. 
 
     
     
       3. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 an adhesive layer disposed on a first side of the flexible film substrate. 
 
     
     
       4. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna ( 11 ) and/or the sensor unit ( 30 ) is formed by printing or etching or punching. 
     
     
       5. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 electrically conductive conductor tracks ( 31 ) that couple the sensor unit ( 30 ) to the chip ( 12 ) of the transponder inlay ( 10 ), wherein a respective conductor track ( 31 ) has one or more predetermined geometric structural changes. 
 
     
     
       6. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one conductor track ( 31 ) comprises a plurality of conductive track sections having a respective longitudinal extension direction, wherein adjacent conductive track sections enclose a predetermined angle with respect to an orientation of their respective longitudinal extension direction relative to each other and form a zigzag-shaped conductor track ( 31 ). 
     
     
       7. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a paper element or nonwoven element disposed on a conductor track ( 31 ) and having a predetermined absorbency. 
 
     
     
       8. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit ( 30 ) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a temperature, a pressure, a wetness, a humidity and/or a moisture. 
     
     
       9. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit ( 30 ) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a presence or an amount of a substance or a chemical. 
     
     
       10. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit ( 30 ) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a light intensity and/or an electrical quantity. 
     
     
       11. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit ( 30 ) is configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a fill level of a container. 
     
     
       12. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer body ( 20 ) is formed as a foam element. 
     
     
       13. The transponder label ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a foil element covering at least a partial area of the transponder inlay ( 10 ). 
 
     
     
       14. A method of manufacturing a transponder label ( 1 ), comprising:
 providing a dielectric spacer body ( 20 ) having a first side ( 21 ) and a second side ( 22 ), 
 providing a transponder inlay ( 10 ) having a chip ( 12 ) and an antenna ( 11 ), 
 providing a sensor unit ( 30 ) configured to detect a measurement signal representative of a physical and/or chemical environmental parameter, wherein two electrically conductor tracks ( 31 ) spaced apart from one another form the sensor unit ( 30 ), 
 applying the transponder inlay ( 10 ) to the spacer body ( 20 ) so that a first part of the antenna ( 11 ) is arranged on the first side ( 21 ) of the spacer body ( 20 ), 
 folding the transponder inlay ( 10 ) around the spacer body ( 20 ) so that a second part of the antenna ( 11 ) is located on the second side ( 22 ) of the spacer body ( 20 ), and 
 electrically coupling the sensor unit ( 30 ) to the chip ( 12 ) of the transponder inlay ( 10 ), 
 wherein providing and applying components for forming the transponder label ( 1 ) comprises printing or etching or punching the antenna ( 11 ), electrically conductor tracks ( 31 ) and/or the sensor unit ( 30 ), and 
 wherein printing or etching or punching the sensor unit ( 30 ) comprises forming the sensor unit ( 30 ) in the form of two spaced apart electrically conductor tracks ( 31 ). 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 providing a flexible film substrate having a first side and a second side; and 
 applying the transponder inlay ( 10 ), the spacer body ( 20 ), and the sensor unit ( 30 ) to the first side of the flexible film substrate. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 applying an adhesive to the first and/or the second side of the flexible film substrate. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 applying an adhesive to the first and/or second side ( 21 ,  22 ) of the spacer body ( 20 ).